Erika Kirk urges judge to start Charlie Kirk murder trial in 2027
The widow of the slain Turning Point USA co-founder argues that a delay until 2029 would leave her children older than their father lived.
By Noor Phillips ·
Erika Kirk asked a Utah judge on Monday to set a trial date for the murder of her husband, Charlie Kirk, for October 4, 2027. The request comes as the court prepares to finalize the schedule for the high-profile capital case against Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing the conservative activist last September. The judge, Tony Graf, will decide between conflicting timelines proposed by the defense and the state.
The hearing was set for Monday afternoon after Judge Graf postponed a decision from the previous month. Prosecutors in the state of Utah recommend a start date of January 31, 2028. Their filing states that the trial could last 17 weeks. They suggested this date to avoid the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as well as the coldest part of the winter season.
Robinson’s defense attorneys, however, requested a start date in the third quarter of 2029. In a memo filed last month, they argued that this timeline aligns with other capital cases in the state. The defense expects the trial to last six to seven months and requires substantial time for jury selection. They also plan to conduct a venue study and may request a change of venue depending on the results.
Kirk’s widow filed a motion urging the court to enforce the right to a speedy disposition. She argued that the defense’s proposed schedule would create needless delay. The motion notes that Kirk’s two children were one and three years old when he was murdered. By the time a 2029 trial concludes, they will be six and eight years old, respectively.
The filing states that the children will face the uncertainty of the criminal proceeding for a longer duration than they had their father in their lives. It describes each hearing as inducing anxiety, pain, and mourning. The motion also asserts that a trial start in 2029 will come at a great cost to the taxpayers of Utah.
Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder, a capital felony. The charge alleges that others were knowingly endangered during the shooting. He also faces charges of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The alleged crime occurred on September 10, 2025, at an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event when he was hit by a rifle shot. The shot was fired from a building rooftop approximately 415 feet from the stage. In September, Judge Graf found probable cause for all charges and determined that a reasonable known risk of death existed, allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
